”Priceless advice.” This is how Michael Schwarz, FIBA Europe’s Coaching Co-ordinator, describes the feedback he received from the coaches who attended the first year of the FIBA Europe Coaching Certificate (FECC) in Rethymnon, Crete, 24-30 July, 2007.

Fifty nine coaches, representing 33 National Federations attended the FECC which coincided with the U16 European Championship Men and returned an evaluation questionnaire on the event after its conclusion.

Improving their knowledge of the game, the interaction with established coaches-tutors and making new contacts were the elements mostly appreciated by the participants.

All coaches found the general organisation of the clinic to be of a high standard in spite of them having to follow a very busy daily programme.

Nine out of 10 participants found the topics of the FECC suitable for their level of coaching and the same percentage believe that they have increased their theoretical and practical knowledge of basketball.

Watching the games of the Championship, realising the standard of basketball at that age group and having the opportunity to discuss it personally with some of the best tutors in the game was another aspect that was much valued by the participants with nearly all of them returning a positive answer.

The hot weather of Crete was not exactly something that took top marks from the coaches but they agreed that the location, the people and the affordable cost very much made up for the soaring heat.

”Their answers, positive or negative, will only help me and my colleagues to further improve the programme for the next edition, next summer,” commented Schwarz.

The FECC is a three-year programme aimed at coaches of young players and focuses on the development of talent in Europe.

The coaches-tutors in Crete were Svetislav Pesic (FECC Mentor & Head coach of Dynamo Moscow, Russia), Nihat Izic (Head coach Turkey U20 men & Assistant coach Turkey senior men), Lucien Legrand (Technical Director of France’s INSEP - Institut National du Sport et de l'Education Physique) and Pablo Laso (Head coach of Alerta Cantabria Lobos, Spain).